Car-coupling.



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E. M. MAW.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1911.

1,015,052. 1 Patent ed 11111 1912.

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' E. M. MAW. GAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1911.

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EDMUND M. MAW, OF DEPEW,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GOULD COUPLER COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAR-COUPLING.

To all whom it may concern? Beit known that I, EDMUND M. Maw, a citizen of the United States, residing at Depew, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates more particularly to railway car couplers of the Master Car Builders type in which a vertically-movable gravity lock is employed for the honzontally-swinging knuckle, and is provided with a lock-set for holding the lock in theviceable and reliable car coupler which will fulfil the demands of the railways, and will comply in all respects with the requirements of the Master Car Builders Association, and which is of simple construction and can be manufactured economically and with the minimum amount of labor; also to produce a coupler having a strong, durable and com pact vertically movable gravity operated locking'device which is so constructed and guided in its vertical movement that it will move freely and will not bind in the event of the coupler head being battered or distorted out of its original shape in service; also to produce a vertically-movable locking device provided with a lock'set which is large, strong and durable, and is certain in action, and to so mount the lock-set device and knuckle-opening lever on the locking device that the one will not interfere with the proper action of "the other; and also to improve the construction of car couplers in the other respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the car coupler embodying the invention, showing the locked position of the parts. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof on line 2--2, Fig.

1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view thereof.

Fig. 4. is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showmg the lock-set position of the locking device. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional eleva- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 25, 1911.

Patented an. is, rare.

Serial No. 623,233.

tion of the coupler, showing the same position of the parts Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevatlon showing the position of the parts when the knuckle is open.

Fig. '7 is a sectional plan thereof.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the drawhead, B the horizontally-swinging knuckle, and C the knuckle locking device. The knuckle, as usual, is pivoted by a pin Z) at one side of the head and is provided with a tail 6 which extends rearwardly into the head for engagement'with the lock and head and preferably has a lateral extension 6 at its inner end.

The knuckle locking device G consists of a lowercombined locking and lock-set block C and an upper guide block C to the bottom of which the lower block is pivoted so that it has a limited pivotal or swinging motion in the longitudinal vertical plane of the coupler. The locking device is arranged to slide vertically in the rear central portion of the coupler head to move the locking block into and out of locking position between the tail 6 of the knuckle and the vertical side wall 0 of the coupler head. The blocks C and C can be pivotally connected in any suitable way, for instance, the guide block is provided at its rear portion with a depending lug which is pivoted in a slot. in the locking and lock-set block C by a rivet c. When the locking device is lifted, the front end of the locking and lock set block is adapted to swing downwardly from an upright position, as shown in Fig. 4. The block is, however, prevented from swinging in the opposite direction beyond an upright position by the upper face 0 thereof striking the bottom face of the guide block.

The locking device is guided in its vertical movements into and out of locking position by a cavity or pocket D in the upper portion of the drawhead in which the guide block C is confined and adapted to slide vertically, and vertical guide ribs (1?. cl in the drawhead at the opposite side of the locking device from the side wall a of the head. The guide cavity is preferably formed by a reduced upwardly projecting hollow part or horn d of the drawhead. An upright rib or ledge 653 is provided in the lower portion of the drawhead in rear of the locking device which assists in guiding the locking device and affords a support on which the heel (l of the locking and lock-set block is adapted to rest for holding-the locking device up in the lock-set position.

E is a lifting link which is pivoted in any suitable manner to the top of the guide block C and extends up through a hole 0 in the top of the horn (l of the drawhead for connection with an overhead lock-oper ating device (not shown) whi"h may be. .of any usual or suitable sort.

The knuckle is unlocked or released by lifting the locking device. By raising the locking device high enough for the heel (Z' of the locking and lock-set block C to clear the supporting ledge d the heavy front end of the locking and lock-set block will swing downwardly so that the heel cl there-' of Wlll rest on the ledge (Z The locking device will thus be held up in the lock-set position shown in Fig. i and the knuckle can then be swung open. In this position of the locking and lock-set block the lower portion of its toe or front end will hang in the path of movement of the tail of the knuckle, as shown in Fig. 5, and when the knuckle is opened, its tail will engage the adjacent rounded or cam-shaped corner f of the locking and lock-set block, thereby swinging it up to its former upright posi tion and disengaging its heel from the ledge 0Z The locking device then settles and rests on its knuckle tail and is supported by the lateral extension of the tail when the knuckle is open, and. when the knuckle is again closed it will drop by gravity between the knuckle tail and the wall 0 of the drawhead, thus automatically locking the knuckle.

A locking device constructed as described is strong and durable and insures a perfect automaticaction of the coupler. The lock ing device is more or less flexible and is freely movable in its guides and will not be caused to bind or work hard by reason of any distortion of the drawhead resulting from the blows and strains to which the coupler is subjected in service. \Vhile the locking device consists of flexibly joined blocks, itis only the lower block, which is solid and strong, which is engaged by and serves as the lock for the knuckle. As the guide and locking'and lock-set blocks are connected, the combined weight thereof is sufficient to insure a positive descent or locking movement of the device and to pre ventthe locking device from being thrown out of locking position by the jarring of the coupler. By utilizing the large, heavy locking block also as the lock-set, the locksetting action thereof is made "cry positive and sure, as the weight of the overhanging front portion of the block is sufficient to overcome any tendency of the hinge to stick,

and the lock-set has a large bearing surface which cannot readily wear enough to affect the perfect action of the device.

G represents the knuckle-opening or kicker lever, which is bent or of angle shape and is pivoted at one end on the guide block C of the locking device. Preferably the lever is hung loosely or removably on a pivot stud g on the front side of the guide block, being retained thereon by the front wall of the guide pocket D for the locking device. When the locking device is in its locking and lock-set positions, the free end of the kicker lever depends between the tail of the knuckle and the adjacent side of the drawhead, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. If the locking'device is raised above the lock-set posicompletely open the knucklewithout necessitating an excessive vertical movement of the locking device. As the looking and lock set block C swings forwardly and rearwardly or at right angles to the plane of movement of the kicker lever, the weight or drag of the latter can have no tendency to disengage the former from the supporting ledge (Z and defeat the lock-setting action of the block C The locking device with the'two blocks thereof riveted together and the lifting link I!) connected thereto can be readily inserted into place in the drawhead through the knuckle opening in the front wall of the head before the knuckle is placed in position. Then by pulling the locking and lock block 0 forwardly and downwardly, the guide block C can be lowered in its guide pocket sufliciently for the kicker lever to he slipped into place on its pivot stud. The parts of the coupler can therefore be quickly and easily assembled by unskilled labor.

H represents a lug which depends fromthe inner end of the tail -of the knuckle. This lug H performs three functions. It is adaptedto engage an upwardly projecting lug or projection h on. the floor of the drawhead to hold the knuckle in the head in the event that the knuckle pivot pin 6 is broken. The rear face of the. lug h is curved slightly eccentric to the knuckle pivot so that there will be only a very slight clearance between this face and the lug H when the knuckle is closed, but the lug will not slide against the face in the ordinary use of .the coupler. The location of the lug H and projection 7a are such that, when these parts are brought into use by the breaking or bending of the knuckle pivot, the line of draft will be virtually in the direction of the length of the tail and therefore the knuckle will not be bent or distorted by the draft strains. Since the guide rib cZ overhangs the tail of the knuckle above the lug H'when the knuckle is closed, as shown in Fig. 1 it will positively prevent the lifting of the tail and the disengagement of the lugs H and it. The tail lug H is also adapted to strike a stop shoulder or projection I in the lower rear corner of the drawhead to limit the inward movement of the knuckle and resist the severe butting and coupling shocks to which the knuckle is subjected in service. By locking the stop projection I at this point, where the bottom, side and rear walls of the drawhead join, a very strong construction is produced and the side wall of the head is not liable to be broken in resisting the blows on the knuckle. The tail lug H is also adapted to strike a stop face K at the front of the head to prevent the knuckle from swinging outwardly far enough for its tail extension b to move from beneath the locking device so as to allow the latter to descend and interfere with the closing of the knuckle.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a car coupler, the combination with a drawhead and a horizontally-swinging knuckle, of a vertically-movable locking device for the knuckle consisting of an upper guide block and a lower locking block which is pivotally suspended from said guide block, said upper and lower blocks being entirely contained in said drawhead, and a guide in the drawhead in which said guide block slides and is confined, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car coupler, the combination with a drawhead and a horizontally-swinging knuckle, of a vertically-movable locking device for the knuckle consisting of an upper guide block which is located and movable within the drawhead below the top thereof, and a lower locking block which is pivotally suspended from said guide block, a guide within the drawhcad in wh1ch said guide block slides and 1s retained in upright position, and a lifting member connected to said guide block and extending out of the drawhead, substantially as set torth.

3. In a car coupler, the combination with a drawhead and a l1orizontally-swinging knuckle, of a gravity-actuated locking de vice for the knuckle consisting of an upper block which is located and movable vertically within the drawhcad, and a lower locking block which is pivotally suspended from said guide block and is movable therewith into and out of locking engagement with the knuckle, and a. guide located within the upper portion of said drawhead below the top thereof .in which said guide block is confined from lateral movement but is adapted to slide vertically, substan tially as set forth.

4. In a car coupler, the combination with a drawhead and a horizontally-swinging knuckle, of a vertically-movable locking device for the knuckle consisting of an upper guide block which is located and movable within said drawhead and a lower combined locking and lock-set block which is pivotally suspended from said guide block,

said combined locking and lock-set block being movable with the guide block to release the knuckle and being adapted, when the locking device is raised, to swing on its pivotal connection with the guide block into engagement with a part of the drawhead to support the locking device in the raised position, substantially as set forth.

In a car coupler, the combination with a drawhead and a horizontally-swinging knuckle, of a vertically-movable locking device for the knuckle consisting of an upper guide block which is located and movable within the drawhead, and a lower combined locking and lock-set block which is pivotally suspended from said guide block to swing in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the coupler, said combined locking and lock set block being movable vertically with the guide block to release the knuckle and being adapted, when the locking device is raised, to swing on its pivotal connection with the guide block into engagement with a part of the drawhead to support the look ing device in raised position, substantially as set forth.

6. In a car coupler, the combination with a drawhcad and a liorizontally-swinging knuckle, of a locking device for the knuckle consisting of an upper guide block which is entirely contained in said drawhead and is guided vertically therein, and a combined locking and lock-set block which is 1nov ably suspended from said guide block and locks the knuckle in the lower position of the locking device and is movable vertically with the guide block to release the knuckle and is adapted, when the locking device is raised, to move relative to the guide block into engagement with a part of the drawhead to support the locking device in the raised position, substantially as set forth.

7. In a car coupler, the combination with a. d rawhead and a horizontallyswinging knuckle, of a vertically-movable locking device tor the knuckle consisting of an up er guide block and a lower locking block which is pivotally suspended from said guide block,

said upper and lower blocks being entirelycontained in said drawhead,a guide in the draWhead in which said guide block slides and is confined, and a knuckle opening lever Which is pivoted on thefro'nt side of said guide block and is actuated to open the knuckle When the locking device is raised, said locking device being adapted to be inserted into place in the drawhead from the front thereof and said knuckle opening lever being detachable fromsaid guide block and being retained in place thereon by said guide, substantially as set forth.

8. In a car coupler, the combination with a' drawhead and a horizontally-swinging knuckle having va tail provided at its inner end with a depending lug, and a locking device for the knuckle, said drawhead having an upward projection on its floor in front of said tail lug adapted to be engaged by said lug to prevent the knuckle from being pulled out of the drawhead, and a rib formed on the dra'whead which guides the movement of said locking device into and out of locking engagement With the tail of the knuckle and which overhangs the tail of the knuckle and is adapted to prevent the disengagement of said lug from said projection, substantially as set forth.

Witness my-hand, this 22nd day of April, 1911. i

' EDMUND M. MAW.

VVit-nesses:

A. B. BRIMMER, D. (l. DAVIS. 

